Being a coach of a club can be very challenging when there is no sponsor except you are self motivated and committed to sports development, a story of coach Lawal Babatunde Suleiman of Triple”D”Fc- Alimosho. In an interview with Nonye, shares his challenges, motivations and many more.
Sir can we meet you?
My name is Lawal Babatunde Suleiman aka Coach Sule.
How did you become a coach and the name of your club?
I attended coaching course with the Nigerian Institute of Sports NIS, and the name of the club is Triple “D”Fc of Alimosho, though not yet registered but we are working on registering it with Nigerian football Federation NFF soonest.
When and how was Triple “D” Fc of Alimosho formed?
After my coaching course at the NIS, I came to Alimosho and saw these boys and decided to assist them since I did not want to be idle, then I spoke with some of them like the Captain Ajibola Wasiu and others, that was how Triple “D”FC of Alimosho was formed.
Who are your sponsors?
Laughs! My brother It is very difficult to get sponsors these days as most of the sponsors today are so impatient to wait for up to two to three years for any coach to produce players for them, they expect you as coach to perform magic and this has been the challenges in getting sponsors. These boys contribute from their individual income to foot the expenses of the club and themselves and for the cleaning of this field.
What motivates you to doing this since you are not paid?
My motivation is to help these boys in improving their talents in football and by God’s grace to help them secure clubs here in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Another factor is my role model Coach Kashimao Laloko whom I met in September 12th, 1986, his selfless service to developing of grassroots football. More so I am the Coach of Under 15 Cowbell Football Academy owned by Barrister Dudu Orumen, we train at the National Stadium Surulere but presently am working on a talent hunt here in Alimosho which will commence soon and hopefully we will establish another centre here in Iyana Ipaja.
Have you produced any known player?
I have about seven of them on my list, though one just returned from Junis Sportive Depobe in Benin republic due to some challenges. I had to ask him to come back, my Captain Ajibola Wasiu and Uche and others will be going on trials too very soon.
